Other Thursday Topics

* I've been hearing quite a bit from readers about the coverage of the John Bryan scandal in St. Petersburg, such as today's report of his funeral. Most of the criticism has been that it is too sympathetic -- that the accusations of sexual abuse are far too monstrous to say anything good about him. It is a tough subject. It shows how well this evil can be hidden behind a facade of respectability. As for whether his friends and family should turn their backs on his grave, I think that is up to them. If I had been closer to him I would have attended his funeral. It would not have been a sign of condoning his actions. [Times photo | Edmund D. Fountain]

* I also have been getting a lot of e-mails about the letter being mailed by business groups opposed to the Florida Hometown Democracy movement. I have a copy and need to scan it in and publish it for folks who haven't seen it. The letter tries to capitalize on a provision in the new elections law passed by our Legislature that makes it possible for voters to revoke signatures on petitions they have signed. It also employs ridiculous scare tactics and statements. Unless breaking news interferes, I hope to take a closer look at it in my upcoming Sunday column.

* So many things deserve comment that it's hard to keep up. I nearly physically stood up and cheered the other day when I read this news item, about a Pinellas School Board member questioning the fine print in a contract -- the vendor wanted to do business with the public without the slightest guarantee that its product would work! Here was the fine print in the contract:

MetaMetrics does not warrant that the product will meet your requirements or that the operation of the software will be uninterrupted or error-free or that the software contains no defects or other errors.

I was impressed that board member Janet R. Clark objected to this, even though the staff had recommended it for approval. One small step toward having more active and engaged public officials...

Comments

[20/20]

Nice job, Howard. Very balanced.

On the Bryan situation… From my perspective, it’s a double-edge sword. Tragic, yet emotions over-ride one’s ability to be objective in a case such as this. Given today’s media technology, it’s best to just pray for the known victims, seek ways to prevent it, and move forward with realistic purpose.

Hometown Democracy… it’s a good thing, form a true Democratic perspective. How it’s handled, spun, and marketed is another story.

Janet Clark… show me consistency, without political career onsideration, and I’ll be encouraged. Keep you eyes on Wilcox, that's all I'll say about that.

Oh, these times they are a’ changin… I hope and pray.

In any case, it’s been one hell of a few weeks and I appreciate your stability and poise. Keep up the good work.

[Larry]

Howard, it continues to amaze and astound me that Jim Smith can look the voters of Pinellas County in the eye and say "I did nothing wrong." Two alleged good folks have lost their jobs, and quite profitably I might add. How and why do these public officials get these gold parachutes complements of the taxpayers. I thought that was reserved for the grand poobahs of the corporate world where at least it is paid for by company funds and not public funds. The people need to get involved here and let their elected officials know their outrage. Steve Spratt resigns from his job, he resigns, because of the lousy job he did on the Smith matter, and the taxpayers hand over nearly a quarter million dollars to him. I'm sorry, but something is essentially wrong with that. And Ms. Churuti is fired, fired for incompetence and breach of ethics, and the taxpayers dole her out a $100,000. This just goes to show you that government has become a "good ole boys" club, and it needs to stop. They fire folks because of budget cuts, folks who did a decent job, and I'll bet they didn't get any bennies like that. Why? Because they weren't in the club. I for one will be voting for anyone who is not an encumbent in the upcoming elections and beyond. I hope you and all the media will continue to remind the voters of how the stewards of their public funds have failed them, and failed miserably.
I've had enough.

[Shhhhhh!]

Howard,

For what it’s worth. Hearing a buzz about a certain Pinellas BOCC member (male, Republican) who’s involved with a Miami-Dade BOCC member (male, Republican) in buying up property along the CSX rail within and between Pinellas and Miami-Dade. These two guys have expressed strong interest in, and are in heavy support of the high-speed and light rail. Not hearing names, but I’ll bet you a donut who the Pinellas guy is.

Might be worth a look.